It was six o’clock. In Australia, they would still be asleep unless jet lag had turned sleep on its head. She sat on her bed and closed her eyes, picturing her girls curled up and dreaming. Were they missing her? Did they ever wake up and call out for her? For one moment, she let the old desolation settle on her like fog. Then she shook her head decisively and stood up.

She had a long bath and washed her hair once more and shaved her legs. Then, to her own surprise, she went into Sasha’s room and found a bottle of bright pink nail varnish for her toes. She put her cream cotton trousers back on and her bright blue shirt and stood for a moment in front of the broken mirror where she could make out distorted portions of her reflection. Her face, above her corded neck, was white and thin. With her wet hair plastered to her skull, she looked both older and younger than she actually was – a haggard woman with slightly bloodshot, staring eyes and a child in need of a square meal and an early night.

‘Adrian? I’m glad I got you.’

‘Irene. Hi.’

In the background she could hear Aggie crying fretfully.

‘Is she all right? What’s wrong?’

‘Fine,’ said Adrian. ‘Frankie’s just brushing her hair. What’s up?’

‘I just wanted to tell you I’m going away. You won’t be able to get in touch with me.’

‘OK.’

‘But you can leave messages on my answering machine. I’ll ring every day to pick them up, just in case.’

‘You don’t need to ring every day.’

‘I will though. Are they all OK?’

‘Yes.’

‘Having a nice time?’

‘Yes.’

‘And Aggie hasn’t been too …’

‘Irene, they’re fine, all right?’

‘Shall I speak to them – just to say hello?’

‘I’m not sure that’s a good idea. It might unsettle them.’

‘Oh. Well, give them a hug from me, will you?’

‘Sure.’

The whole world lay between them.

‘Goodbye,’ she said. The word seemed to echo long after she put the phone down.

Eighteen

She got up before seven in the morning, woken by the birds outside the window and the sound of rain against the glass. Although she didn’t have to leave until much later, she was anxious to be on her way. There wasn’t much food in the house, so she made herself a large mug of milky coffee and took the punnet of soft purple raspberries from the fridge, eating them slowly, one by one, staining her fingers.